DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest who valued philanthropy, Saint Vincent de Paul. The student body consists of about 23,500 students (approximately 15,000 undergraduate and 8,500 graduate/law). DePaul is the largest Catholic university and one of the 10 largest private universities in the United States; it is the largest private university in Illinois.